Living Sustainably…

The concept of Sustainability has been increasingly permeating our society and various institutions. From advertisements(I saw one about a “sustainably” designed SUV) to guiding principles of corporations and other institutions, the use of sustainability both in meaning and function are very broad. I would like you to take a moment to think about what you think sustainability is. What does it mean? What do you associate with it? Are you sustainable?

Although the concept is used a lot, it is hard to exactly define what it means. Some noteworthy definitions that came out of the Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) seminar were, “sustainability is a concept that can be applied to any kind of system. It is the extent to which a system is fully regenerating all the elements involved, where the concept of waste is eliminated and replaced as an intermediary step in a full cycle. Conflict and destruction are understood as a step in a full cycle” (Alissa White). Another student focused on social sustainability or transcommunality and saw sustainability as a global super-community that collectively sees beyond physical and ideological differences/barriers (skin color, religion, culture, etc) (Dan Curtis-Cummins). A more simple and common definition would be, something that sustains or lasts over time.

In a time where environmental destruction is increasing in pace and magnitude, and violence is a common tactic to forward political agendas, the future of human beings is questionable. Are we sustainable? We can think about that in terms of our children’s perspective. What sort of world will they grow up in? If we don’t change the way we interact with the world, fish containing mercury, deserts, acid rain, lots and lots of garbage, nuclear waste pits, war and unstable governments, short-term-profit focused corporations, asthma causing air, ozone with a huge hole, limited and contaminated fresh water, and uncountable deaths from people without access to basic necessities is only the beginning. Of course, our generation will leave many great inventions and knowledge also, but without our basic necessities like clean air and water, and access to food and shelter, what good are all our inventions and “progress?”

We live in a difficult era where we will be challenged to really think about how we will maintain a future for ourselves, and clean up the mess that was left in our world from previous generations. So what can we do? There are various ways to approach this issue but one easy way is to just to be conscious of how you affect the environment and other people. What impact do you have on others, what is the cost of your actions on the environment? For instance, driving your car? How much does it cost to produce, maintain, and reintegrate a car to the environment? What are the various health effects? What is the cost politically and socially in oil rich countries? Is it sustainable?

The first step is to start thinking. Becoming conscious of the results of your actions is a vital step to sustainability. A minimalist approach to consumption is another easy path to a more sustainable life-style; for instance, using less electricity, using less water, generating less trash, etc. Here are some ideas of ways use less resources and improve your life.
For further information and involvement please contact ksawyer (at) ucsc.edu.;

Transportation: Walk, bike, bus or train. Interact with people and build community!
Food: Buy seasonal local organic food. Know your farms and farmers.
Recycle: Learn how to recycle correctly and sustain ably.
Consumption: consume less, reuse, give away, and shop at the thrift store
Compost: it is so easy, and makes free organic fertil izer
Cleaning: dishes, laundry, oil, and stains – use baking soda

Drains: a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar

Odors: vinegar works for solid surfaces and baking soda for fabrics

Oil: flour will absorb oil and can be easily collected to throw away
Laundry: use a cup of vinegar as a fabric softener. Hang dry clothes (saves money)
Avoid: plastic products, non-fair trade products, and other environmentally and socially
destructive products (fast food, oil, endangered fish, products made by slave labor, etc.).
Electricity: turn off lights frequently. Unplug unused electrical products. Avoid central heating.
Trash: generate less of it. Dumpster dive. Dig for treasure.
Give and Share: to your family, friends, strangers, the needy, animals, yourself
Be: positive. Focus on things that make you happy. Make someone else happy.
Activism: learn about the issues, join an org and work on larger scale issues

-Student Environmental Center (SEC)

-Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP)

-CalPIRG

-Green Peace